Dusting tool



Jan. 12, 1954 H, GREGm Yv 2,665,446

DUSTING TOOL Filed Feb. 3, 1950 "Ill 1| 4 INVENTOR Afar-25h 11 ar o BYQ ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES ATsNT OFFICE 2,665,446 USTING TOOL Marvin H. Gregory, Roanoke, Va. ,Applioafipn ,Febmary 3, 195.0, Serial N 0. 142,301 :2 Cl im (01.15-39. 1)

This invention relates to an improved dnstr ing tool particularly adapted for removing dust and dirt from Venetian blinds but also useful generally for cleaning the surfaces of other articles and parts.

A primary object of the invention to provide an improved dusting tool of simple, light, durable construction, easy and convenient to handle and by which dust and dirt can be rapidly and thoroughly removed from Venetian blinds.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an improved dusting tool of the character referred to adapted to be attached to the suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner whereby dust and other foreign matter on Venetian blinds loosened by the dusting or brushing element of the tool will be removed by the suction, the dust and dirt passing through openings in the brush head to the suction pipe of the vacuum cleaner.

The invention ,cornprehends a dusting tool comprising an elongated, light, tubular body or men-i ber and an elongated dusting or brushing element of general rectangular shape, and another object of the invention is to so form the elongated tubular member that the elongated. .r 1e.a ;l of the brushing unit can be compactly fitted thereon and securely attached thereto by simple means providing for the quick and easy assembly of the parts.

A further object of the invention is .to provide an improved tool of the character mentioned having a brushing unit with a head provided with air openings so shaped and arranged as to provide efiicient suction substantially throughout the full area of the dusting or brushing element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dusting tool comprising an elongated tubular continuous body part or member to which a brushing unit is attached, one-end of the tubular body or member constituting a handle tor the tool and which handle portion is offset upwardly from the main portion of the tubular body part or member so that,;in use of the dusting tool,-the hand of the operator grasping the handle or the tool will be spaced from the slats of the Venetian blind and will not rub against the slats in'the brushing operation.

The invention, with other objects, novel features and advantages thereof, and'the particular construction, combination and arrangement .of parts comprising the same, will be understood trom the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dusting tool con structed in accordance with the present invlen tion;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a'transve rse section on the line 3- 3 of Fig. llooking in the direction of the arrovv;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the elongated tubular member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail View of the tor.- warcl end portion of theielongated' tubular ber showing the end portion'o'f the same slit and the upper part of the partially severed portion flat n or it i e t doi i ward yan lioined to the adjacent portions of the tubular member to close the forward end thereof.;.

Egg. 6 is a detail top plan view ,of the brushing um a Fig. 7 is a detail bottom plan view vof the brush ing unit;

E s. ,8is an explod d .view of an adapter couplin m mbe with a p ion of th ha dle of the tool and a portion of a suction pine oifa vacuum cleaner.

While a preierred embod ment of th inve tion is illustrated in the drawing, it Will be 11 d rstood that mi r .ohane s and .m diiisa may be made n the part cular c n t uc ion s own, a d the invention ma be em o ied in th r o m a wi ap ea to thos sk lled the art and falling within the scope of thelappe de la ms w t ou p rt n ii'om ihespiri Of the inv nti Rei r ins t a e l desc t o f th a t u a mb dime t o th in tion i lustrated in the drawing; the construction ,of dusting tool shown includes an elongated tubular nieinber '11 having .at one end a laterally curved portion l 2 terminating in a longitudinal portion 13 forming a h dl o th du t ng t oland which h dle p rtio is adapt d to te escopicall en age the hose ,or suction pipe of a conventional vacuum cleaner, said handle portion 1 3 being offsetlabove the main part of the elongated tubular member and extending substantially parallel .th'erewr The tubular-member .ll is provided in s under.-

sideforwardly-of the ,laterallycur'ved Withalongitudinalrecessllmextending to o1:- ward e ds-a d r ess e g formed by stra h longitudinally extending ,bottom faces '15 .of the forward side wall portions .l..6' and the be, red transversely extending end .iace portions ill! of said tubularmemlqe The tu ula m mber 1 isclp e a it orwa d endib adow wa d an u ward y maime wa l po on 1 Pr je ting 3 forwardly from the bottom portion of the tubular member II at the inner end of the recess [4 is a pointed penetrating attaching portion or prong [9.

The elongated tubular member H is shown as constructed from a length of light metal (preferably aluminum) tubing or pipe of circular cross section and equal diameter throughout, the same at one end being bent upwardly and then outwardly to form the upwardly extending portion l2 and handle portion 13, the reces l4 being provided by cutting away a part of said length of tubing along the forward under side thereof. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, two slits 20 are made in the reduced part of the length of tubing, starting a short distance from the forward end thereof. The partially severed portion between the slits 20 is then flattened and its side edges trimmed to match up with the side edge portions 21 so that, when said intermediate portion is bent down and secured along its side edges 22 by welding or soldering, to the adjacent edge portions 21, it forms the downwardly and outwardly inclined end wall portion l8 closing the forward end of the tubular member. Instead of forming the tubular member H in the manner described, it may be formed by molding the same from any suitable metal or plastic.

The tool has a dusting unit comprising a head or base 23 and a dusting element 24 secured thereon, the dusting element being shown as consisting of bristles. The head or base 23, which is of elongated general rectangular form, fits into the longitudinal recess M in the tubular member H as shown in Fig. 1, one end of said head or base fitting against the curved transversely extending end face portion ll of the tubular member, and the head or base at its upper side fitting against the straight longitudinally extending bottom faces l5 of the forward reduced side wall portions 5. The head or base 23 is provided in its top face with longitudinal grooves 25 to receive the lower marginal portions of the side wall portions l6 and a suitable cement 25a is placed in said grooves to provide an air-tight seal between the parts.

The head or base 23 is provided at its forward end with a short beveled face 26 against which the lower end of the inclined end wall (8 of the tubular member ll fits, the construction being such that a complete air-tight seal is provided between the upper part of the head or base 23 and the marginal portions of the tubular member l l, the reduced forward portion of said tubular member forming a suction chamber 21 at the upper side of the head or base 23.

r The head or base 23 at its rear end is secured to the tubular member II by the pointed prong or spur 19 which enters the inner end of the head or base when the latter is forced longitudinally into position into the recess 14. After the head or base 23 has been seated in the recess l t, with its inner end in engagement with the attaching prong or spur l9, it is tightly clamped to the tubular member II by a screw 28 extending transversely through an aperture 29 in the tubular member H and entering into the head or base 23. As will be understood, this particular fastening means is simple and efficient and provides for the quick and easy assembly of the parts. The head or base 23 is provided with a plurality of elongated air and dust openings or slots 30. through the head or base 23 from top to bottom thereof, the sameproviding passages leading These openings or slots 30 extend.

from the under side of the head or base through the same to the suction chamber 21 at the upper side of the head or base. The elongated openings or slots 30 are arranged to extend parallel with each other transversely of the head or base at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the same. This particular arrangement is especially advantageous in providing for efficient suction throughout the full area of the bottom of the head or base 23 and the bristles 24, and for the picking up of dust and dirt loosened by the bristles 24 as the tool is moved in contact with a surface in a path transversely of its longitudinal axis.

The invention broadly comprehends the use of any suitable dusting material on the head or base 23 in place of bristles. When a cloth or fabric is employed as the dusting element, it will be provided with uitable openings extending through the same and registering with the elongated openings or slots 30 in the head or base 23.

In Fig. 8 of the drawing, is shown an adapter coupling member 3| to provide for telescopically connecting the tubular handle portion 13 of the tool with the suction pipe or hose designated 32 of a vacuum cleaner when the diameter of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe is such that the tubular handle l3 of the dusting tool will not snugly fit directly into or over the same as desired, said adapter coupling 3 I as shown, being of tapering formation.

It will be understood that my improved dusting tool is adapted to be employed as a brush for cleaning Venetian blinds or other articles or parts without being connected with the suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner, as well as for use as an attachment for vacuum cleaners.

In the use of the brushing or dusting tool as a simple brush without being connected to the suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner, the Venetian blind to be cleaned is first raised to approximately twenty (20) inches to the top of the window by the pull cord and the slats closed through the tilt cord. Then, take the brush and, with a crosswise motion, go over the entire slats. Next. reverse the slats by the tilt cord and go over that side of the blind. Then reach behind or underneath the Venetian blind with the brush or dusting tool and repeat the cross-wise brushing motion. After the top slats are cleaned, lower the blind about twenty (20) inches more and continue the brushing operation as before until the entire blind slats and tapes have been thoroughly cleaned or dusted.

When the dusting tool is u ed as an attachment for Vacuum cleaners, the tubular handle being connected with the suction pipe of the conventional vacuum cleaner, the same procedure is followed as before in cleaning Venetian blinds but. in this case, the dust and dirt on the Venetian blind, as it is freed therefrom by the brushing element, will be picked up by the suction from the vacuum cleaner, the dust and dirt being drawn upwardly through the slots or openings 30 in the head or base 23 of the brushing unit into the suction chamber 21 and passing outwardly through the tubular handle portion [3 to the vacuum cleaner pipe 32.

It will be noted that the invention provides an efiicient dusting tool of simple, light, durable construction. The elongated brushing unit with its head fitting into a recess in the under side of the elongated continuous tubular body member.

. results in a compact satisfactory construction,

and the special means for attaching the head of the brushing unit to the elongated body member affords a simple, eificient attaching means that provides for the quick and easy assembly of the parts.

The improved dusting tool is easy and convenient to handle, the upwardly offset tubular handle portion formed continuously with the tubular body part or member providing for operating the dusting tool without the hand of the operator, rubbing against the surface being cleaned, and the beveled forward end of the tubular body member making it easy to insert the tool into the space at the front of the Venetian blind without the same catching into adjacent drapes. As will be appreciated, the particular arrangement of the elongated openings or slots in the head of the dusting unit extending at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the same provides for especially effective cleaning action as the brush is moved sidewise longitudinally along the slats of a Venetian blind.

What is claimed is:

1. A dusting tool including an elongated tubular member formed from a continuous length of metal tubing of circular cross section and uniform diameter, one end portion of said tubing forming a handle portion, the tubing being cut away at its under side forwardly of said handle portion to provide a longitudinal recess extending to the forward end thereof with a transversely extending shoulder portion at the inner end of said recess, the forward end portion of said recessed part of the length of tubing being slit laterally at opposite sides to provide a partially severed intermediate portion, said intermediate partly severed portion being flattened and reduced in width along its side edges, and the flattened intermediate portion then being bent downwardly against the adjacent end faces of the side wall portions along said slits and secured thereto along its side edges to close the outer end of said forward recessed portion of the tubing, a dusting unit comprising an elongated head of general rectangular form and a dusting element secured thereon, the head of the dusting unit fitting into said recess with its upper side fitting against the bottom faces of the forward side wall portions and lower end of said flattened intermediate downwardly bent portion, and with one end fitting against the transverse shoulder portion at the inner end of said recess, and means securing" the head of the dusting unit to said elongated member.

2. A suction and dusting tool for use with a vacuum cleaner, said tool including a single continuous elongated tubular member of uniform diameter from end to end, one end section of said member being circular in cross section throughout the length thereof and forming a handle and a suction conduit, said end section comprising an inner straight part, and an intermediate part extending laterally upwardly from said inner straight part and terminating in a straight outer hand grip portion upwardly ofiset from and disposed parallel to and in the vertical plane of the first mentioned straight portion, the other, forward end, section of the tubular member being provided in its underside with a recess extending from its outer end to the inner end of the first mentioned handle section, said forward end section being partly circular in cross section, the end face of the lower part of said inner end of the handle section at the inner end of said recess extending at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said forward end section of said member and forming a transverse shoulder, said forward end section having a wall portion closing the same at its forward end, a dusting unit comprising an elongated narrow rectangular shaped head and bristles secured thereon, the head of the dusting unit being provided with longitudinal grooves in the upper face thereof, and the head of the dusting unit fitting into said recess with its upper side fitting against the bottom faces of the side Wall portions of said forward end section, said side wall portions being received within said longitudinal grooves, and one end of the head fitting against the wall portion that closes the forward section at its forward end, and the other end of the head fitting against the transverse shoulder at the inner end of the first mentioned handle section, said head being of a width only slightly greater than the diameter of the tubular member and the latter being disposed centrally of the sides of the head so that the head projects only a slight distance beyond the side faces of said forward end section of the tubular member, said forward section forming a suction chamber, the head of the dusting unit having a plurality of openings extending therethrough from top to bottom thereof communicating with said suction chamber, and means for securing the head of the dusting unit to said tubular member.

MARVIN H. GREGORY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 614,335 Newman Nov. 15, 1898 1,205,681 Sundstrand Nov. 21, 1916 1,243,472 Wilson Oct. 16, 1917 1,770,749 Engbern et al. July 15, 1930 2,130,635 Dow et al. Sept. 20, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 121,745 Switzerland July 16, 1927 291,760 Great Britain Nov. 29, 1928 561,215 Germany Oct. 12, 1932 

